WSP05341

• File Number: 8278.100
• Description: Title I - Yuma Desalting Plant
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Date: 12/23/1992
• Author: USDOI/BOR
• Title: Yuma Desalting Plant - Alternatives for the Interim Period
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Publication

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National Obligation

Section 101 (c) of the 1974 Act states, "(c) Replacement of the reject
stream from the Desalting Plant, Colorado River waters used for the
mitigation of fish and wildlife habitat losses and of any Wellton-Mohawk
drainage water bypassed to the Slough to accomplish essential operation
except at such times when there exists surplus water of the Colorado
River under the terms of the Mexican Water Treaty of 1944, is recognized
as a national obligation as provided in Section 202 of the Colorado
River Basin Project Act (82 Stat. 895) ".

The Basin States could argue that under the 1974 Act, the Secretary was
authorized, though not directed, to operate the Desalting Plant except
at times when surplus flows were being delivered to Mexico. The
reservoirs on the Colorado River are drawn down, having experienced the
6 driest years on record. If the Federal Government does not feel
compelled to operate the Desalting Plant under current conditions, there
may be some loss of credibility with the Basin States regarding future
Federal commitments.

ALTERNATIVE Bl: DEACTIVATE DESALTING PLANT

Under this alternative, the Desalting Plant would be deactivated and
preserved for future use but not kept ready to operate. Mechanical
parts would be greased down and stored. Other details on how to
adequately preserve the Desalting Plant and protect the equipment would
need to be determined. Staff and technical expertise would be reduced
in for~e. The Yuma Projects Office would continue to occupy the
Desalting Plant. The necessary support would be performed through the
existing Maintenance and Operation (M&O) contract. The Test Plant would
continue to operate while the Desalting Plant was deactivated to
investigate methods of reducing production costs and improving
technology.

A 6-month lead time would be required to resume operation of the
Desalting Plant after deactivating, not including repurchase of
membranes, which may take up to 3 years to procure and manufacture.

Recognizing that the length of time the interim period will last is not
known, a rough estimate was made of costs associated with deactivating
the Desalting Plant, beginning in fiscal year 1993 and continuing into
fiscal years 1994 and 1995, under the following assumptions:

A. The current M&O contract would be modified to operate
the Test Plant, provide the YPO support, delete production
plant operation, and deactivate the Desalting Plant.

B. Full-scale operations would resume in fiscal year 1996
at approximately $35 million per year.

C. Re-start costs would be incurred in fiscal year 1995.

D. A new management and operations contract would be
awarded in fiscal year 1996.

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